This 1-hour VIA Rail trip from Toronto takes you to a dreamy small town with sandy beaches
It's known as "one of the cutest small towns in Ontario."
A beach in an Ontario town. Right: A building in an Ontario town.
Beach days and historic charm await at this small town near Toronto. With a quaint Main Street, cute boutiques and sandy shores, this beautiful destination is a great spot to spend a summer day.
The best part is, you don't need a car in order to get there.
The small town can be reached by VIA Rail train and the trip takes just one hour.
You can spend the day window shopping, indulging in food, enjoying self-guided tours, checking out the scenic trails and splashing through the crystal waves.
You won't have to worry about hitting traffic while taking the train, either.
Port Hope is a charming small town situated along the shores of Lake Ontario. According to Northumberland Tourism, it's "been called one of the cutest small towns in Ontario" and is home to the "best-preserved heritage main street in Ontario."
You'll feel like you've stepped back in time as you take in all the 19th century architecture.
The town has two sandy beaches to enjoy — East Beach and West Beach. Both are close to the downtown and offer scenic shorelines and swimming opportunities, so you'll want to bring your bathing suit.
If you're a fan of the horror movie It, you'll want to embark on the It Walking Tour. The experience takes you past some of the filming locations seen in the film.
The town is surrounded by farms and orchards, meaning that you can enjoy some delicious local food during your visit. There are a number of restaurants to visit, including Olympus Burger, which boasts the "number 1 burger in Canada," according to Port Hope Tourism.
The downtown is a walk away from the train station, so you can enjoy a getaway to this spot without bringing a car.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.